OFFICIAL GRID: Who's where in China as Albon starts from pit lane

It’s an all-Mercedes front row in Shanghai, with F1’s youngest-ever polesitter Kimi Antonelli lining up alongside George Russell – but breathing down their necks as the lights go out will be the fast-starting Ferraris of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.

The McLarens of Oscar Piastri and World Champion Lando Norris are next up, while there’s a surprise sight of an Alpine on row four, with Pierre Gasly having superbly out-qualified the Red Bull pair of Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar. Haas’ Oliver Bearman completes the top 10.

At the opposite end of the grid, it is Aston Martin and Cadillac bringing up the rear, with the former's Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll in P18 and 20 respectively, and the latter's Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez 19th and 21st.

Finally, Alex Albon will start from the pit lane after Williams made set-up changes to his car ahead of the race. The Thai driver had originally qualified in P18.

The 2026 Chinese Grand Prix starts at 1500 local time. Be sure to join our live coverage from 1400 here.